Obama to House GOP: 'Do the right thing' on tax cuts

By Jennifer Epstein

07/26/12 03:24 PM EDT

President Obama on Thursday implored House Republicans to "do the right thing" and pass an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts for the middle class.

Because the Senate passed an extension on Wednesday, "the only thing that is going to prevent the vast majority of Americans from not seeing a tax increase next year is if the House doesn't act," he said, speaking to reporters before the start of a cabinet meeting at the White House.

"I would encourage the House of Representatives to do the right thing," he added later.

Obama said that he and members of his cabinet will spend the coming days, "mak[ing] sure the American people understand that we can provide them certainty now for next year that their taxes will not go up and they will be able to plan accordingly. Small businesses will be able to plan accordingly."

Thursday's cabinet meeting was the first Obama has hosted since Jan. 31 and the 18th of his presidency, according to logs kept by CBS News's Mark Knoller. A readout released after that meeting said the discussion then focused on small businesses, as he elevated Karen Mills, the leader of the Small Business Administration, to his cabinet.